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Contents

Key Information

What should I do?

If you think you have this condition you should see a doctor within 48 hours.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will carry out a blood test to look at the different type of blood cells in your body. A bone marrow sample (biopsy) can be taken and analysed to give the doctor a more complete picture of your condition.

What is the treatment?

If you are diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia, you may not need to be treated straight away, as it is a condition that develops over time.

You should have regular blood tests to monitor the disease.

As your condition progresses, the main treatment that you will require is chemotherapy.

Introduction

Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare type of chronic (long-term) leukaemia.

The condition gets its name from the fine, hair-like strands that develop around the outside of the cancerous cells, visible under a microscope.

It is not known what causes hairy cell leukaemia.

Leukaemia

All the body's blood cells, including red and white blood cells and platelets, are produced by bone marrow. Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside the bones. It also produces special cells called stem cells.

In leukaemia, the cancer begins in the stem cells and causes them to produce more white blood cells than are needed. Over time, the build-up of cancerous white blood cells disrupts the normal balance of cells in the blood.

This means your body does not have enough red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, or platelets, which help stop bleeding. This can lead to symptoms of anaemia, such as tiredness and feeling faint, as well as increasing the risk of excessive bleeding.

Also, as the white blood cells are not properly developed, they are less effective at fighting bacteria and viruses, making you more vulnerable to infection.

Hairy cell leukaemia

Symptoms of hairy cell leukaemia develop slowly and are similar to those of other types of leukaemia. They include: